It's been revealed that the busiest intersection in London - the Hanger Lane Gyratory - would have to be replaced along with 18 bridges through Ealing to accommodate the high-speed rail link HS2.

The plan currently is for the rail link - which would cut journey times between Birmingham and London to 40 minutes - to pass under the gyratory. This would take about seven years to build - causing huge disruption to the immediate area as well as other parts of the borough.

Ealing's Environment and Transport Cabinet Spokesman Councillor Bassam Mahfouz told the BBC's Transport Correspondent, Tom Edwards, that replacing bridges is not a viable option and a tunnel - at a cost of around £150m has to be the answer.

Watch the BBC report in full here

Local campaigners do not want HS2 at all, but if they have to get it they want a subterranean solution.

The company building HS2 says it's now looking into the feasibility of providing a tunnel through Ealing for the  rail link.

The Secretary of State will make the final decision.

 

2nd October 2012